DESIRE FOR PEACE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1939, Page 11

DESIRE FOR PEACE

ARCHBISHOP O’SHEA’S VIEW. .IMPRESSIONS OF TRIP. AUCKLAND, June lb “I found in all countries a general desire for peace,” said the Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand, the Most Rev. Thomas O’Shea, when lie returned to Auckland al'ler being abroad for several months. In the course of his travels lie spoke with the late Pope I’iiis XI and his successor, visited many European countries, and spoke with the Mritish Prime Minister (Air Chamberlain.) Archbishop O’Shea staled that one of the objects of his visit to Rome was to obtain the approval of the Pope for the National Eucharist ic Congress to he held in honour of the New Zealand Centennial next year. In that he was very successful with the late Pope Pius XI, wlio agreed to send a Cardinal Legate, an honour never before paid the Dominion.

His Holiness also said lie would write before the celebrations tn the people in New Zealand, exhorting them to prepare well and make the congress a success. The Holy Father had expressed his belief that, in these times, such congresses, which had the ]> rim ary object ol honouring our Lord, would du much to bring about an improvement in world conditions. CARDINAL LEGATE COMING.

“Unfortunately the Pope died, and I remained longer in Europe io see tiie new Pope,” added Archbishop O Shea. “He already know about the congress, and graciously confirmed all his predecessor had promised. He also said lie would make known (he name of the Cardinal Legate this mouth. It is unusual to do so so soon, hut lie intended lo depart from the usual procedure in view of the greater distance to New Zealand.

“I was present at his coronal ion, which was magnificent. When he was crowned iii tlie loggia above the Piazza, lie looked down on a crowd of more than half a million people, and it was an unforgettable spectacle. The soldiers in their various colours and the women in their summer frocks provided patches of colour which lormed a mosaic which was striking in its effect as the people swayed.” While visiting England, Ireland and Scotland His Grace obtained the consent of representatives of the Episcopate of those countries to attend the Eucharist Congress in Wellington in February. One already selected was

Archbishop McDonald, Edinburgh

distinguished Benedictine, who was formerly Abbot of Fort Augusta Abbey. is a comparatively young man and will be the first Scottish prolate to visit New Zealand. There will also probably he a French bishop here for tiie occasion, as the first priests in New Zealand were .Frenchmen. Plt 0 All N ENT VISITO RS.

Among prominent lay visitors to the congress will he Air Frank Sliced, eminent Catholic publicist- and speaker, and his wife, one of the outstanding women speakers of England. A famous Irish priest, who will also come to New Zealand, is tile Rev. Dr. James G’Afahoney, distinguished Capuchin prolessor of philosophy at Cork University. Dr. O’Mahoney is a tine speaker and a brilliant philosopher. and ranks with Dr. Arthur Ryan. who visited Auckland for the Catholic centenary celebrations last year, as one of the most distinguished men in Ireland. Germany. Italy, and Switzerland were also visited by Archbishop O'Shea, lie met the famous Jesuit. Father Le Roy, who might possibly visit Australia and New Zealand in the interests of the international Labour Bureau. "When I first arrived in London at the time of the crisis I was fitted with a gas mask." said Archbishop O’Shea. "I heard Air Chamberlain speak in the House of Commons. I must pay a tribute to the High Commissioner (Air W. J. Jordan), who did everything in his power to make my visit a success .

"Before I visited Rome a second time I saw Air Chamberlain and had a discussion with him for 20 minutes. He discussed the state of affairs in the world and said the moral support of the Dominions given him at the time of the crisis was a tremendous help to him and was something for which he was extremely grateful. He also has a great opinion of the Pope, whom he met in Rome during his visit lo the late Pope Pius XI. POPE AND PEACE. "When I met flic new Pope lie asked me if J knew Lord Halifax. British Foreign Al blister, and lie added that lie thought it a great thing for the peace of the world that the great British Empire had at its head two men of the calibre of Air Chamberlain and Lord Halifax. If it were possible to achieve peace, they would succeed.

“Pope Pills lias a iborough knowledge ol' Furopo and lias visited North and South America. I believe he will make a {trout eontrihution toward the preservation of peace in the world. He is an oxcoodinglv capable limn and 1 find (lie prestige of the Papacy is very high in the world to-day." Referring to the persecution of the Church in Germany. Archbishop O'Shea said that a few days before he met Cardinal Faulliaber. of Munich. the cardinal’s chapel had been smashed by Nazis because the Nazis alleged that the cardinal favoured the dews. Cardinal Katilhaber had condemned Nazi racial heresy. In Bavaria 4000 nuns were dismissed from schools, hospitals and other institutions, and no religion was taught in the schools. The Nazis wanted no religion. Christian or .Jewish. The persecution was diabolical, as there was a pretence that religion was not persecuted, as they had not closed the churches. “People in the various countries I visited do not want war," said Archbishop O'Shea. “They have suffered so much from the last war. Germans said that if they wore ordered to fight they would have to. Mothers were termed at the prospects of another war. That is why Gorman mothers look on Mr Chamberlain as a saviour." His Grace’s lour was concluded with a 8000-mile tour through the Cnited States and Canada. Before leaving Fnginm! lie listed Cord Bledisloe. who retains his interest in New Zealand. The port of his departure to New Zealand was San Francisco, the city where he was born.